In 1998, the anthropologist Robin Dunbar argued that each human has a hard-wired upper limit on the number of people he or she can personally know at one time….
Sure enough, psychological studies have confirmed that human groupings naturally tail off at around 150 people: the “Dunbar number,” as it is known. Are people who use Facebook and Twitter increasing their Dunbar number, because they can so easily keep track of so many more people?
This is an excerpt from a New York Time’s magazine article a friend of mine sent me. It talks about “Digital Intimacy” – no, i’m not just talking about eHarmony and Match.com; more like the actual human connections (both personal and professional) we are able to make through social media tools.
Interestingly, as I think about it, the friend who sent me this link increases my Dunbar number by one. It was Facebook that made our friendship possible.
Infact, tools like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, DiggIt and RSS Feeds have offered me greater access to a number of influential individuals than any in-person networking opportunity would have awarded me. More important to note, not only do I have direct access to many of these contacts, I also am able to quickly tap into their network of close friends, co-workers, influencers etc.
In leveraging social media not only is the breadth of my relationships expanded, but I am able to establish a more deeper, or ”intimate” connection with individuals with little to no maintenance or commitment involved. In following a Blog, Twitter, or Facebook page I am able gather and share valuable knowledge and insight. So the question is, how many of these “acquaintances” can a person have before its considered overboard?
What’s your Dunbar number?
